Course Outline Form: Winter 2016
General Information
Course Title: ENVS*2320 Current Issues in Microbial and Molecular Science
Course Description:
This course will introduce students to the scientific disciplines related to environmental
microbiology and molecular biology, while further developing their ability to critically engage
with scientific literature and apply it to interdisciplinary analysis of applied problems of current
interest.
Credit Weight: 0.50
Academic Department (or campus): School of Environmental Sciences
Campus: Main Campus
Semester Offering: W16
Class Schedule and Location:
Lectures/Seminars: Mondays 8:30 – 10:20 am, MacDonald Institute (MINS), Room 017
Lectures/Seminar: Fridays 8:30 – 10:20 am, John T. Powell Building, Room 212
Instructor Information
Instructor Name: Professor Marc Habash
Instructor Email: mhabash@uoguelph.ca
Office location and office hours: ECBL Rm. 3238, by appointment
GTA Information
GTA Name: N/A
GTA Email: N/A
GTA office location and office hours: N/A
Course Content
Specific Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course successful students will be able to:
1. Describe environmental microbiology within the context of evolution, cell structure and
function,
cellular metabolic pathways,
information flow and genetics, and microbial
systems
2. Describe one or more current issues relating to environmental microbiology and molecular
biology
3. Understand what information can be found in sections of a typical research article and to
analyze and interpret this information efficiently
4. Create written and oral works investigating a current issue in environmental microbiology or
molecular biology through critical assessment of current research
Lecture Content:
Lectures will integrate discussions of current issues in environmental microbiology and
molecular biology by highlighting the following fundamental concepts:






Evolution
Microbial Systems
Cell structure and function
Metabolic pathways
Information flow and genetics
Impact of microorganisms on different environments

Guest Lectures – Current research in environmental microbiology and molecular biology
(various topics)
Labs:
Not applicable
Seminars:
The focus of the seminars will be to integrate in-class exercises to help reinforce lecture
materials. These exercises will include:
 Student presentations (2 mini presentations and 1 longer presentation)
 Exercises to understand what information can be found in sections of a typical research
article in order to assess them more efficiently
 Discussions of selected journal articles
Course Assignments and Tests:
Assignment or Test
Due Date
Mini presentations (2)
Paper discussion
Jan. 29, Feb. 26
One of: Feb. 5, 12,
Mar 4, 11, or 18
Feb. 5, 12, Mar 4,
11, or 18
Mar. 11
April 1, 4 or 8
April 22
Participation – paper
discussions
Outline
Presentation
Final exam
Contribution to Final
Mark (%)
15 (2 X 7.5%)
10
Learning Outcomes
Assessed
1, 3, 4
1, 2, 3, 4
10 (4x2.5%)
3, 4
15
20
30
1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2, 3, 4
1, 2, 4
Additional Notes (if required):
Information for each assignment will be made available to students on Courselink.
In this course, your instructor will be using Turnitin, integrated with the CourseLink Dropbox
tool, to detect possible plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration or copying as part of the ongoing
efforts to maintain academic integrity at the University of Guelph.
All submitted assignments will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference
database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the Turnitin.com
service is subject to the Usage Policy posted on the Turnitin.com site.
A major benefit of using Turnitin is that students will be able to educate and empower
themselves in preventing academic misconduct. In this course, you may screen your own
assignments through Turnitin as many times as you wish before the due date. You will be able
to see and print reports that show you exactly where you have properly and improperly
referenced the outside sources and materials in your assignment.
Final examination date and time: April 22 (11:30 am – 1:30 pm)
Final exam weighting: 30
Course Resources
Required Texts:
There is no required text. Journal articles, book chapters, and/or case studies needed for the
course will be made available to students in class, via Courselink, or at the Library Reference
Desk.
Recommended Texts: Not applicable
Lab Manual: Not applicable
Course Policies
Grading Policies:
Due dates are final for all assignments. However, extensions may be granted in exceptional
cases. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible to discuss a possible accommodation.
Course Policy on Group Work:
The following assignments will be prepared and submitted as groups:



Research paper discussions
Outline
Presentation
Group members will be assigned the same grade for these assignments. For each assignment, a
distribution of effort (DOE) by each group member will need to be submitted. These may be
used by the instructor to adjust the grade of individual group members where the DOE
between group members is not balanced.
Course Policy regarding use of electronic devices and recording of lectures:
Electronic recording of classes is expressly forbidden without consent of the instructor. When
recordings are permitted they are solely for the use of the authorized student and may not be
reproduced, or transmitted to others, without the express written consent of the instructor.
University Policies
Academic Consideration:
The University of Guelph is committed to supporting students in their learning experiences and
responding to their individual needs and is aware that a variety of situations or events beyond
the student's control may affect academic performance. Support is provided to accommodate
academic needs in the face of personal difficulties or unforeseen events in the form of
Academic Consideration.
Information on regulations and procedures for Academic Consideration, Appeals and Petitions,
including categories, grounds, timelines and appeals can be found in Section VIII
(Undergraduate Degree Regulations and Procedures) of the Undergraduate Calendar.
Academic Misconduct:
The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity
and it is the responsibility of all members of the University community, faculty, staff, and
students to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as possible
to prevent academic offences from occurring.
University of Guelph students have the responsibility of abiding by the University's policy on
academic misconduct regardless of their location of study; faculty, staff and students have the
responsibility of supporting an environment that discourages misconduct. Students need to
remain aware that instructors have access to and the right to use electronic and other means of
detection. Please note: Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is
not relevant for a finding of guilt. Hurried or careless submission of assignments does not
excuse students from responsibility for verifying the academic integrity of their work before
submitting it. Students who are in any doubt as to whether an action on their part could be
construed as an academic offence should consult with a faculty member or faculty advisor.
Detailed information regarding the Academic Misconduct policy is available in Section VIII
(Undergraduate Degree Regulations and Procedures) of the Undergraduate Calendar.
Accessibility:
The University of Guelph is committed to creating a barrier-free environment. Providing
services for students is a shared responsibility among students, faculty and administrators. This
relationship is based on respect of individual rights, the dignity of the individual and the
University community's shared commitment to an open and supportive learning environment.
Students requiring service or accommodation, whether due to an identified, ongoing disability
or a short-term disability should contact the Student Accessibility Services (SAS), formerly
Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD), as soon as possible.
For more information, contact SAS at 519-824-4120 ext. 56208 or email sas@uoguelph.ca or
visit the Student Accessibility Services website (http://www.uoguelph.ca/csd/).
Course Evaluation Information:
End of semester course and instructor evaluations provide students the opportunity to have
their comments and opinions used as an important component in the Faculty Tenure and
Promotion process, and as valuable feedback to help instructors enhance the quality of their
teaching effectiveness and course delivery.
While many course evaluations are conducted in class others are now conducted online. Please
refer to the Course and Instructor Evaluation Website for more information.
Drop period:
The drop period for single semester courses starts at the beginning of the add period and
extends to the Fortieth (40th) class day of the current semester (the last date to drop a single
semester courses without academic penalty) which is listed in Section III (Schedule of Dates) of
the Undergraduate Calendar.
The drop period for two semester courses starts at the beginning of the add period in the first
semester and extends to the last day of the add period in the second semester.
Information about Dropping Courses can be found in Section VIII (Undergraduate Degree
Regulations and Procedures) of the Undergraduate Calendar.
Additional Course Information
None